If something feels wrong, take it seriously. Alcohol overdose can suppress breathing and protective reflexes. A person’s condition may worsen after they stop drinking because alcohol is still being absorbed.
Signs that require urgent action
Being impossible to wake, confusion, repeated vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin, clamminess, and very low body temperature can signal alcohol overdose.
Describe what you see. Do not minimize symptoms because you are worried about consequences.
Do not send them away alone or assume someone else is watching.
If they are lying down, keep them on their side to reduce choking risk. Do not force them to walk.
Tell responders what and how much they may have consumed, including medications or other substances.
Coffee, cold showers, food, exercise, or “sleeping it off” do not reverse an overdose.
If it is not an emergency
Stay together, stop further drinking, arrange safe transportation, and check in later when both of you are sober. The next-day conversation should be specific and respectful: what you saw, why it worried you, and what you hope will be different next time.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed July 2026. This page provides general educational information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.